Proximity switch-type control means



Dec. 1, 1970 E. POLIAKOFF ,5

PROXIMITY SWITCH-TYPE CONTROL MEANS Filed May 8, 1969 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG. I

INVENTOR.

THEODORE E. POLIAKOFF 70 AGENT 1970 n T. E. POLIAKOFF 3,

PROXIMITY SWITCH-TYPE CONTROL MEANS Filed May 8, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 4

INVENTOR. THEODORE E] POLIAKOFF AGENT United States Patent 3,544,934PROXIMITY SWITCH-TYPE CONTROL MEANS Theodore E. Poliakolf, Alexandria,Va., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation ofNew Jersey Filed May 8, 1969, Ser. No. 822,910 Int. Cl. H01h 51/28 US.Cl. 335206 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Proximity switch-typecontrol means having magnetic operating means and switching meansincluding at least one reed switch, switch supporting and connectingmeans, and housing means consisting of a condulet and a cover thereforadapted to be removably mounted on supporting structure.

This invention relates generally to electric controls and moreparticularly to magnetically responsive proximity control means havingreed-type switches.

Switch-type control means made in accordance with the present inventionhave no actuating portions extending therefrom which can become bent,broke or impacted with foreign matter to prevent operation. Therefore,while such control means may find utility in many differentenvironments, they are particularly adapted for use as limit switchesand will be described as such. It should be understood, however, thatthis is merely a preferred environment and is not to be construed as animplied limitation of the claimed invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a proximity controlmeans having a magnetic'operator means and electric switch means movablerelative to each other, and the switch means including at least one reedswitch is opened and closed depending upon the relative position of theoperator means thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoingcontrol means in which at least one reed switch is a normally closedswitch due to the effects of a magnetic bias.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoingcontrol means in which the switch means is enclosed in a releasablymountable housing.

The present invention contemplates a proximity switchtype control meanshaving magnetic operating means and switching means arranged forrelative movement therebetween, and the switching means comprisinghousing means adapted to be removably mounted and defining a switchchamber, switch supporting and connecting means disposed in the switchchamber and releasably connected to the housing means, at least one reedswitch carried by the supporting means and having at least one reedextending from each end thereof and conductively connected to theconnecting means independent of the other reed, the reeds having anormal switching position and being caused to. assume another switchingposition by the magnetic operating means as it moves adjacent to thehousing and into proximity of the reed switch. 7

:The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein several embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawingsare for illustration purposes only and are not to be construed asdefining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the present invention.

3,544,934 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofswitching means made in accordance with the present invention and havinga portion of the housing thereof broken away to more fully illustratethe working parts therein.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 44,respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the novel switching means of FIG. 2with the receptacle box portion of its housing removed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another form of switch means with its housingremoved.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is provided for discussing andteaching the present invention, and is not intended to be limiting tothe specific parts as are shown. Thus, the novel proximity control meansis comprised of a switch means 10 normally mounted on fixed structure(not shown) and an operating magnet or magnet means 11 suitably mountedon movable structure (not shown). The specific number of reed switchesincluded in the switching means 10 is determined by the number ofswitching functions which are required. Similarly, whether anyparticular reed switch is normally open or closed and whether the reedof any switch is connected to a common or an individual conductor 13 orline 15 are determined by the character or type of each switchingfunction required.

As shown, the switching means 10 is provided with a pair of reedswitches or switch members 12 and 15 disposed in spaced parallelrelationship. The reeds 13 and 14 of the switch 12 are normally openwhile the reeds 16 and 17 of the switch 15 are normally closed. All ofthe reeds 13, 14, 16 and 17 are made of an electrically conductivemagnetic material and the reeds 16 and 17 are normally retained closedby the effects of a biasing bartype magnet or magnet member 18 with thepoles thereof at its ends. The biasing magnet 18 is disposed adjacentand parallel to the reed switch '15. Reeds 13 and 16 illustrateconnecting corresponding ends of the switches 12 and 15 to a common lineor conductor C while reeds 14 and 17 are each connected to a differentline or conductor. To reiterate, the novel switching means may beprovided with one or more reed switches 12 or 14, or a combinationthereof while the specific reeds may be connected to individual orcommon lines or conductors, as shown.

The operator magnet 11 is of a bar type disposed substantially parallelto the switches 12 and 15 and the magnet 18, and is movable along atransverse path to its polar axis, as indicated by the arrow in thedrawing, between two arbitrary end positions shown as being axes X1 andX5. The axes X1 to X5 do not provide true proportional relationships. Italso should be noted that the magnet 11, with its poles at its ends, ispoled oppositely to the magnet 18.

Considering operation of a novel electric control means asdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 1, the operator magnet 11 is disposed inits initial position on axis X1. Therefore, reed switch 12 is open ornonconductive and the effects of the flux of magnet 18 keeps the switch15 closed or conductive so that the reed 16 connects the common line Cto the reed 17.

As the magnet 11 is moved toward the switch means 10 (to the left asviewed in the drawings) it will arrive at a position in the proximity ofaxis X2 where its flux will successfully oppose the flux of the biasingmagnet 18. With the effects of the flux of magnet 18 neutralized, reedswitch 15 also opens and the common line C is fully disconnected.Continued movement of magnet 11 past switch 15 and toward the axis X3will cause the effects of its fiux on switch 15 to weaken and on switch12 to strengthen or intensify.

Depending upon the desired switching sequence, one of the switches 12 or15 can be closed before the other or they may be closed simultaneously.To facilitate description, it will be assumed arbitrarily that theswitching means is arranged for sequential closing of switch 12 and thenswitch 15. Accordingly, as the magnet 11 approaches its position in theproximity of axis X3, the intensifying effect of its flux on switch 12will cause this switch to close whereby reed 13 will connect the commonline C to the reed 14. Further movement of the magnet 11 will cause theeffects of its flux to reduce to where it is overcome by the effects ofthe fiux of the biasing magnet 18 and cause the switch to reclose. Thecommon line C is now connected to both of the reeds 14 and 17.

Both of the switches 12 and 15 will remain closed as the magnet 11travels past the switch 12 to a position in the proximity of axis X4.However, continued travel of the magnet 11 past the axis X4 and towardthe axis X5 Will cause a progressive weakening of the effects of itsflux on the switch 12 and will result in this switch reopening when theoperator magnet 11 is in the proximity of axis X5.

It should be fully appreciated that the foregoing is not intended todescribe any particular switching sequence but, rather is merely adescription of the effects of the magnet 11 during a complete excursionfrom axis X1 to axis X5. If the novel switch means 10 of FIG. 1 were tooperate as a limit switch, the magnet 11 probably would travel onlybetween its position indicated by the axis X1 and X3,

The novel switch means 10 in accordance with the showing of FIG. 1 isshown in FIGS. 2 to 5 as having a housing provided by a condulet orjunction box and a cover therefor. The condulet 20 defines a chamber 21,which is open on one side in the usual manner, and has a portion 22 atone end adapted for connection to a conductor or wire protecting conduitor pipe P, as shown in FIG. 3. The connection portion 22 defines anopening for the conductors or wires (not shown) from the conduit or pipeP into the chamber 21. The cover 25 is releasably connected by threadedfasteners 23, in the usual manner, to the condulet 20 for closing theopen side of the chamber 21. However, the cover 25 differs from theusual condulet cover by having lateral flange portions 26 which extendoutwardly from or past the sides of the condulet 20. The flanges 26 areprovided with openings 27 for any suitable fastening means (not shown)for releasably connecting the cover 25 to suitable supporting structure(not shown).

A bobbin or support member 30 and a terminal block 40, both of asuitable dielectric material are releasably mounted by suitablefasteners 29 to the inside of the cover 25 within the chamber 21 whenthe cover is connected to the condulet 20. The bobbin 20 is providedwith end portions 34 and 36 and are substantially parallel to oneanother. An epoxy may be used to retain the switches 12 and 15 and themagnet 18 immovable in the respective bores or slots 31, 32 and 33. Thereeds 13 and 16 of switches 12 and 15, respectively, are each solderedor otherwise suitably conductively connected to a different one of apair of conductor pin members which extend through the end portion 34while the reeds 14 and 17 are each similarly connected to a differentone of a pair of conductor pin members 37 which extend through the endportion 36. It should be understood that, in some instances, the pinmembers 35 and 37 may be sufficient to hold the switches 12 and 15 inplace and an epoxy would not be required.

The terminal block 40 has three connection terminal means each providedby a pair of terminal screws 41 and 42, and a plate member 43conductively connecting the terminal screws together. The pin members 35are conductively connected together and to one of the screws 41 or 42 ofconnecting terminal means while the pins 4 37 are each conductivelyconnected to one of the screws of a different one of the remaining twoconnection terminal means,

The conductors or wires (not shown) extending from the conduit or pipe Pinto chamber 21 are each connected to the unused screw of theappropriate connection terminal means. When these electrical connectionshave been completed, the cover 25 is connected by fasteners 23 to thecondulet 20 and then by means (not shown) to supporting structure (notshown). The number of connection terminal means can be varied asrequired and is determined by the number of electrical connections to bemade. While the bobbin or switch support means 30 and the terminal blockor electrical connecting means 40 are shown and have been discussed asseparate parts which are mounted together, the two functions thereofcould be served by a single dielectric member.

Towards this end, switch support means and a terminal block means 54 areof a unitary dielectric construction in a modified switching means as isshown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The support means 50 is provided with threediagonal grooves or grooved portions 51, 52 and 53 for receiving andhousing the reed switches 12 and 15 and the magnet 18 which are held inplace by epoxy or any other suitable means known in the art. The groove51 is disposed at a right angle to and crosses the grooves 52 and 53which are parallel to each other and spaced by a thin wall portion. Thecrossing grooves are at different levels and, alternatively, may bebores which are provided by molding when the member 50 is formed or bymachining thereafter.

The terminal block means or portion 54, in this instance, is shown atone end of the member 50 and has four terminal connecting means eachprovided by a pair of terminal screws 41 and 42 conductively connectedby a member 43, as heretofore described. The reeds of the switches 12and 15 are electrically connected to the three of the electricalconnecting means in the same manner as heretofore discussed, however, asindicated, the reeds 13 and 16 may each be connected to a dilferent oneof the terminal connecting means if it is so desired.

The operator magnet 11 moves relative to the novel switching means alonga path, shown by the arrow in FIG. 6, which is substantially parallel tothe terminal board portion 54 and bisects the angle of intersection ofthe crossed grooves 51 and 52. The modified switching means may bemounted alternatively so the operator magnet assumes a position 11A andhas a path of travel which are normal to the magnet 11 and its path oftravel.

It should be understood that reed switch or reed switch 15 with itsbiasing magnet 18 may be eliminated if only a single switching functionis required. On the other hand, additional switches may be provided toincrease the number of switching functions that are available. Thenumber of grooves or bores provided in the switching mounting means 30or 50 is determined by the number of switches and biasing magnets to besupported while the number of terminal connecting means provided by aterminal block 40 or a terminal block portion 54 depends upon the numberof independent reed connections to be made.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustratde anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. Various changes may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing the spirit and scope of theinvention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

1. In a proximity switch-type control means having magnetic operatingmeans and switching means arranged for relative movement therebetween,comprising a condulet defining a switch chamber with one open side, andhaving means at one end thereof adapted for connection to a conduitenclosing and protecting conductors to be connected to said controlmeans, said means at said one end defining an opening through saidcondulet for passage of conductors into said switch chamber,

a cover releasably connected to said condulet thereby closing the openside of said switch chamber, and having a pair of flanges each extendingaway from the other laterally outward from said condulet,

said pair of flanges being adapted to be removably mounted on supportingstructure,

switch supporting and connecting means disposed in said switch chamberand releasably mounted on said cover,

at least one reed switch member being carried by said supporting meansadjacent said cover and having at least one reed extending from each endthereof and conductively connected to said connecting meansindependently of said reed extending the other end, and

said reeds of each of said reed switch members having a normal switchingposition and being caused to assume another switching position by saidmagnetic operating means moving adjacent said cover transversely to theaxis of and into the proximity of said reed switch member.

2. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 1,wherein said reeds of at least one of said reed switch member assume anopen and nonconductive normal switching position and are biased by saidmagnetic operating means to a closed and conductive other switchingposition.

3. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 1,and

at least one bar-type magnet member carried by said supporting andconnecting means adjacent to a reed switch member and having its polaraxis substantially parallel to the axis of said adjacent reed switchmember,

said bar-type magnet member biasing said reeds of said adjacent reedswitch member to a closed and conductive normal switching position, and

said magnetic operating means overcoming the bias of said bar-typemagnet member when in the proximity of said adjacent reed switch memberthereby causing said reeds of said adjacent reed switch member to assumean open and nonconductive other switching position.

4. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 1and having a plurality of said reed switch members, wherein said reedsof at least one of said reed switch members assume an open andnonconductive normal switching position,

at least one bar-type magnet member carried by said supporting andconnecting means adjacent to another reed switch member and having itspolar axis substantially parallel to the axis of said other reed switchmember,

said bar-type magnet member biasing said reeds of said other reed switchmember to a closed and conductive normal switching position,

said magnetic operating means biasing said reeds of said one of saidreed switch members to a closed and conductive other switching positionwhen in the proximity of said one of said reed switch members, andovercoming the bias of said bar-type magnet member when in the proximityof said other of said reed switch members thereby causing said reeds ofsaid other of said reed switch members to assume an open andnonconductive other switching position.

S. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 4,and said supporting and connecting means comprising:

a supporting member of dielectric material having a plurality of axiallydisposed and parallel portions each receiving and housing therein aditferent one of the members carried by said supporting means,

a terminal block of dielectric material,

a plurality of terminal connecting means each independently connectingat least one of said reeds to a conductor, and

each of said terminal connecting means comprising a pair of spacedfasteners threadedly engaging said terminal block, and a memberconductively connecting said pair of spaced fasteners together.

6. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 5,and

said terminal block having a plurality of integral wall portionsextending outwardly therefrom and being disposed in spaced parallelseries with one another, and

said terminal connecting means each being disposed between a ditferenttwo of said wall portions.

7. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 6,wherein said magnetic operating means including a magnet with a polaraxis substantially parallel to the axes of said reed switch and bar-typemagnet members, and

relative movement between said magnetic operating and switching meanscausing said magnet to move adjacent said cover in a directionsubstantially normal to all of said axes.

8. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 4,and said supporting and connecting means comprising:

a single support member of dielectric material having a plurality ofportions thereof each receiving and housing therein a different one ofsaid members carried by said supporting and connecting means,

at least one of said portions and one of said reed switch memberstherein being disposed at substantially a right angle to and crossingthe remaining of said portions and said members therein,

a plurality of terminal connecting means disposed in spaced seriesacross one end of said support mem ber each independently connecting atleast one of said reeds to a conductor, and

each of said terminal connecting means comprising a pair of spacedfasteners threadedly engaging said support member, and a memberconductively connecting said pair of spaced fasteners together.

9. The proximity switch-type control means in accordance with claim 8,wherein said magnetic operating means including a magnet with a polaraxis, and

relative movement between said magnetic operating and switching meanscausing said magnet to move adjacent said cover in a directionsubstantially normal to its polar axis substantially bisecting the anglebetween the crossing portions of said support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,912,540 11/ 1959 Sawicki335-207X 3,161,742 12/ 1964 Bagno 335-207X 3,187,129 6/1965 McBrian335-153X 3,387,240 6/ 1968 Koppensteiner 335153 BERNARD A. GILHEANY,Primary Examiner R. N. ENVALL, JR., Assistant Examiner

